Perspectives on the world from the views of a dreamer and two realists.

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Sorry, Rejected. Just ‘Cause You’re too…. Asian

Dear Applicant, we regret to inform you that you have been REJECTED to our college. Feel free to apply next year. Thanks for competing against the pool of applicants, though they are not all as qualified as you. It’s just life you know? We want more Hispanics, African Americans, and of course, Caucasians.

Reasons for rejection:

1. You’re not white.

2. You’re not black.

3. You’re not Hispanic.

4. There are too many of your kind here.

Basically, you’re asian, so you’re penalized for being too smart, too qualified, too likely to succeed. We just don’t want successful future-builders like you anymore. WHAT?

The SCA 5 is the Senate Constitutional Amendment that was introduced by California State Senator Edward Hernandez, asking to eliminate prop 209’s ban on affirmative action. (Here’s the internet’s description of what it does: it’s a ban on the use race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in recruitment, admissions, and retention programs at California’ public universities and colleges. California Proposition 209 prohibits state government institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity, specifically in the areas of public employment, public contracting, and public education.)

How is this fair? Certain groups will be limited in their access to education, employment, and recruitment. Asian ethnicities will be competing against their own group for limited spots. Groups that are more prone to higher education will be denied because there are too many applicants that are beyond qualified, but cannot be admitted due to lack of spots for that certain group. Others with lower standards of qualification will be denied simply because they are part of another group that has less applicants, but are in no way comparable to the first group. This penalization will discourage many from pursuing a higher education as it violates rights of equality and equal access. Instead, the range of abilities of colleges and other institutions will expand, and the quality of these institutions or organizations will decrease.

Thankfully the SCA 5 has been halted. However, there is still support of this movement. What’s your opinion on this matter? Do you think it is justified? Or will this affirmative action plan be more beneficial overall?